Independence Holding Company Announces 2017 First-Quarter Results

Income from continuing operations decreased to $.29 per share, diluted, or $5,009,000, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $.33 per share, diluted, or $5,896,000, for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

On March 31, 2016, IHC completed the sale of IHC Risk Solutions LLC ("Risk Solutions"), exited the medical stop-loss business and realized an after tax gain of approximately $99,793,000, net of noncontrolling interest. In addition, under the purchase and sale agreement, all of IHC's in-force medical stop-loss business produced by Risk Solutions was 100% co-insured as of January 1, 2016 and will be run out in 2017 as evidenced by the decrease in income from the stop-loss segment in the first quarter of 2017. Net income attributable to IHC of $4,936,000, or $.29 per share diluted, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 decreased from $106,010,000, or $6.08 per share diluted, in the same period of 2016 primarily due to the gain on sale of Risk Solutions.

The Company reported revenues of $71,840,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2016 of $75,895,000. Revenues decreased primarily due to a reduction in premiums from the 100% co-insurance of the Company's stop-loss business produced by Risk Solutions.

Chief Executive Officer's Comments

Roy T. K. Thung, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased with our first quarter results, particularly when considering that the first quarter of 2016 included $7.0 million more in earnings from the medical stop-loss segment than did the comparable quarter in 2017, which was largely offset by increased earnings from the specialty health segment, an increase in corporate investment income on the proceeds from the sale of Risk Solutions, and cost cutting and certain other expense reductions. As a result of the sale of Risk Solutions and exiting the medical stop-loss segment, we have an abundance of capital. We have redeployed a relatively small amount of this capital to improve our specialty health infrastructure, acquire equity stakes in several companies that distribute our products as well as PetPartners, Inc., a pet insurance administrator. We have also become an attractive developer of specialty health products for other insurance companies, and two of the largest health insurers in the United States are now distributing a significant amount of our products. For all these reasons, we believe that we will write significantly more premiums in this segment in 2018. We believe we are very well positioned regardless of the outcome of the ongoing debate over health insurance."

Mr. Thung continued, "As recently announced, we have commenced a tender offer to purchase up to 2,000,000 shares of our common stock at a price per share of $20.00, which ends on June 26, 2017, unless extended, and separately bought back 724,769 shares in the first quarter of 2017 at a cost of $14.4 million. Our parent company's balance sheet is very strong, we have no debt, and we still have over $160 million in cash and undeployed capital prior to giving effect to the tender offer. Our overall investment portfolio continues to be very highly rated (on average, AA) and has a duration of approximately five years. Our book value increased to $26.24 per share at March 31, 2017 from $25.53 per share at December 31, 2016."

"THIS PRESS RELEASE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO BUY OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL SHARES OF INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY COMMON STOCK. THE TENDER OFFER FOR SHARES OF INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY COMMON STOCK DESCRIBED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS BEING MADE ONLY PURSUANT TO AN OFFER TO PURCHASE, LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND RELATED MATERIALS THAT IHC DISTRIBUTED TO ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (THE "SEC") ON MAY 26, 2017. STOCKHOLDERS AND INVESTORS SHOULD READ CAREFULLY THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND RELATED MATERIALS BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE VARIOUS TERMS OF, AND CONDITIONS TO, THE TENDER OFFER. STOCKHOLDERS AND INVESTORS MAY OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE TO, THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT IHC FILED WITH THE SEC AT THE SEC'S WEBSITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV OR BY CALLING D.F. KING & CO., INC., THE INFORMATION AGENT FOR THE TENDER OFFER, AT (212) 269-5550 (FOR BANKS AND BROKERS) OR (800) 967-7574 (FOR ALL OTHERS). STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THESE MATERIALS PRIOR TO MAKING ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE TENDER OFFER."

About The IHC Group

Independence Holding Company (NYSE:IHC) is a holding company that is principally engaged in underwriting, administering and/or distributing group and individual specialty benefit products, including disability, supplemental health, pet, and group life insurance through its subsidiaries since 1980. The IHC Group owns three insurance companies (Standard Security Life Insurance Company of New York, Madison National Life Insurance Company, Inc. and Independence American Insurance Company), and IHC Specialty Benefits, Inc., a technology-driven insurance sales and marketing company that creates value for insurance producers, carriers and consumers (both individuals and small businesses) through a suite of proprietary tools and products (including ACA plans and small group medical stop-loss). All products are placed with highly rated carriers.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements and information contained in this release may be considered "forward-looking statements," such as statements relating to management's views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions in the markets in which IHC operates, new federal or state governmental regulation, IHC's ability to effectively operate, integrate and leverage any past or future strategic acquisition, and other factors which can be found in IHC's other news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. IHC expressly disclaims any duty to update its forward-looking statements unless required by applicable law.

INDEPENDENCE HOLDING COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

March 31, 2017

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2017

2016

REVENUES:

Premiums earned

$

62,941

$

62,562

Net investment income

3,911

4,436

Fee income

3,225

5,079

Other income

1,591

3,258

Net realized investment gains

172

560

71,840

75,895

EXPENSES:

Insurance benefits, claims and reserves

32,211

30,743

Selling, general and administrative expenses

32,082

35,227

Interest expense on debt

-

453

64,293

66,423

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

7,547

9,472

Income taxes

2,538

3,576

Income from continuing operations, net of tax

5,009

5,896

Discontinued operations

Income from discontinued operations, before income taxes

-

117,636

Income taxes on discontinued operations

-

7,866

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

-

109,770

Net income

5,009

115,666

Less: Income from noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

(73

)

(9,656

)

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO IHC

$

4,936

$

106,010

Basic income per common share

Income from continuing operations

$

.30

$

.34

Income from discontinued operations

-

5.81

Basic income per common share

$

.30

$

6.15

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

16,701

17,243

Diluted income per common share

Income from continuing operations

$

.29

$

.33

Income from discontinued operations

-

5.75

Diluted income per common share

$

.29

$

6.08

WEIGHTED AVERAGE DILUTED SHARES OUTSTANDING

16,978

17,449

As of June 15, 2017, there were 16,377,756 common shares outstanding, net of treasury shares.